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Best Casual Restaurants in University of Minnesota

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58 restaurants available nearby

A photo of Young Joni restaurant
1. Young Joni
4.6
Exceptional(793)
Price: Expensive
• Pizzeria • Northeast Minneapolis
Booked 68 times today
Young Joni is James Beard award-winning chef Ann Kim's restaurant located in the Arts District of Northeast Minneapolis. The menu is inspired by wood fire cooking and features an array of globally influenced dishes and signature pizzas. Dining Room reservations are offered for dinner and weekend brunch; walk-ins are available at our bar and community table.Young Joni is the recipient of 2019's James Beard Award for "Best Chef Midwest"; it has been featured in the New York Times and Vogue, and on Netflix's "Chef's Table: Pizza." Tucked discreetly behind Young Joni is the back bar, serving full and no-proof craft cocktails and pizzas in a warm, analog setting. Esquire named it one of 2019's Best Bars in America and Eater called it an "Essential Minneapolis Bar." Walk down the alley alongside Young Joni and look for the red light; when the light is on, the back bar is open. Back bar reservations are available, and walk-ins are always welcome.
A photo of Hell's Kitchen Minneapolis restaurant
2. Hell's Kitchen Minneapolis
4.7
Exceptional(5645)
Price: Moderate
• American • Downtown / North Loop
Booked 119 times today
Comfort food with an upscale twist...In the heart of downtown Minneapolis, appropriately located in a beautiful underground space, you'll discover Hell's Kitchen, an employee-owned restaurant known for its damn good food. Join us for breakfast, lunch, dinner or drinks 7 days a week, and enjoy REAL comfort food made by chefs who care, described by food writers as "unique but not fancy; interesting but not fussy". Almost everything is made from scratch, from our award-winning peanut butter to our unique dips and dressings, winning us over 67 "best" awards as well as accolades in Gourmet Magazine, Conde Nast Traveler, Midwest Living, and other national magazines. And bring the kids along... you should see the cheeky notes they write to us!"Rather than rave on, let us just say if you're in Minnesota and want to wow your tastebuds, go to Hell's Kitchen. It is inspired and inspiring." (Jane & Michael Stern, NPR)
A photo of The Smack Shack restaurant
3. The Smack Shack
4.6
Exceptional(1733)
Price: Expensive
• Seafood • Downtown / North Loop
Booked 21 times today
Casual, coastal restaurant in the North Loop. Reservations taken for dining room only, patio seating is available on a first come, first serve basis. Please check in with hosts upon arrival for patio seating.Although named for the boats used to catch lobster, Smack Shack was launched as a food truck in 2010 serving lobster rolls from a land-locked downtown Minneapolis parking lot. Owner Josh Thoma had a great recipe and a belief that appetite for fresh lobster in the Twin Cities was as strong as any coastal city.Smack Shack is committed to serving sustainable seafood and is a current partner in the Minnesota Zoo’s Fish Smart program. Sustainable seafood is wild caught or farm raised seafood that has established practices to ensure the long term growth and thriving populations of seafood with limited harm to the environment.
A photo of Fogo de Chao - Minneapolis restaurant
4. Fogo de Chao - Minneapolis
4.2
Awesome(5066)
Price: Moderate
• Brazilian • Downtown / North Loop
Booked 135 times today
Fogo de Chão is an internationally-renowned steakhouse from Brazil that allows guests to discover what's next at every turn. Founded in Southern Brazil in 1979, Fogo elevates the centuries-old culinary art of churrasco - roasting high-quality cuts of meat over an open flame - into a cultural dining experience of discovery. Please join us in our dining room, in our more casual Bar Fogo, or bring the Fogo Experience to you with Fogo To-Go or Catering. Visit our website to make a reservation or place an order.
A photo of Beacon Public House - Graduate Minneapolis restaurant
5. Beacon Public House - Graduate Minneapolis
4.6
Exceptional(326)
Price: Moderate
• Gastro Pub • Downtown / North Loop
Booked 16 times today
The Beacon is a warm and inviting neighborhood gastropub. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, we serve up a menu of American classics and feature an extensive selection of craft cocktails and beers. Get your game on over a local brew at our pool table, cozy up with friends at a booth or high top, or gather 'round the communal table in our private dining room for more intimate conversation.
A photo of Cafe Lurcat - Minneapolis restaurant
6. Cafe Lurcat - Minneapolis
4.8
Exceptional(5247)
Price: Very Expensive
• American • Downtown / North Loop
Booked 22 times today
Café and Bar Lurcat, located next to Loring Park, is a hip, urban venue that boasts serious food and voguish design. Café Lurcat is a perfect blend of classic old world style with a Noveau twist. The expansive bar and lounge is ideal for casual cocktails and a la carte bites, while the romantic dining room creates the perfect ambiance for an exceptional foodie experience featuring sophisticated comfort food. We offer the perfect event venue for family celebrations, trendy parties, marriages, Bar Mitzvahs, showers, charity events, galas, graduations and black tie events. This iconic Minneapolis restaurant continues to age like a fine wine as it approaches its 20th year.
A photo of The Butcher's Tale restaurant
7. The Butcher's Tale
4.8
Exceptional(973)
Price: Expensive
• Steakhouse • Downtown / North Loop
Booked 19 times today
The Butchers Tale presents a fresh approach to the culinary world of artisanal meats, bringing back favorites and introducing new tangy, melt-in-your-mouth options including Wagyu beef, double-cut smoked pork chops, our smoked beef long rib, grilled oysters and other extensive seafood offerings. The Butchers Tale has every mood, taste, budget, and craving covered, from specialty meats and steaks like Wagyu and prime steaks in our main dining room; to juicy burgers, fried chicken and handmade brats on our award-winning patio and beer garden. The Butchers Tale has everything needed to spend memorable time with family, friends and neighbors. We also feature 3 great private dining and event spaces that accommodate groups from 8 people up to 120.
A photo of Zelo restaurant
8. Zelo
4.8
Exceptional(4051)
Price: Moderate
• Italian • Downtown / North Loop
Booked 25 times today
At Zelo, we serve simple, fresh Italian cuisine made from local ingredients. Our handcrafted meals accompany a thoughtful, approachable wine selection. We believe dining is more than a menu: it is an experience, and ours is quality. When you’re our guest, our staff learn your name and remember your favorite glass of wine. We passionately commit to bring you the full dining experience – quality food and wine presented with welcoming service. Every meal. Every day. Please join us. An enduring Minneapolis destination, Zelo was opened in 1999 by Rick Webb, a Minnesota restaurateur whose pursuits have set the standard in Twin Cities dining for over 40 years. Looking for another unparalleled dining experience in the south metro? Visit Rick Webb’s acclaimed Ciao Bella, the restaurant that inspired Zelo’s handcrafted food and dedicated service.
A photo of noa restaurant
9. noa
4.5
Awesome(152)
Price: Expensive
• American • Downtown / North Loop
Booked 2 times today
Noa, situated in the IDS Center in the heart of Minneapolis, provides guests with chef-crafted dishes in a welcoming and expansive setting. The restaurant exudes a cozy ambiance and vibrant energy, offering a selection of upscale yet accessible menu options. Featuring earthy hues and abundant natural light and greenery, Noa creates a relaxed environment for visitors throughout the year. Additionally, the establishment includes a private dining space for hosting events and is capable of handling large orders and accommodating special requests.
A photo of Nicollet Island Inn restaurant
10. Nicollet Island Inn
4.9
Exceptional(3381)
Price: Expensive
• American • Downtown / North Loop
Booked 13 times today
The Nicollet Island Inn has stood witness to over a century of change on the shores of the Mississippi River. The Inn is consistently named the most romantic restaurant in the area and its river views have been voted some of the best in the city. An immediately recognizable Minneapolis landmark, the Inn offers world-class cuisine created by Executive Chef Michael Rain , whose innovative and constantly updated menu includes a variety of seafood, steaks and gourmet specialty dishes. Our wine menu has been chosen specifically to compliment the food and highlight producers from the world's leading wine regions.Nic's bar, just off the main dining room, is a casual, old-world tavern and the patio offers stunning views of the Minneapolis skyline. The Inn is a convenient, comfortable destination for breakfast or lunch meetings while the 3 or 5-course Sunday Brunch is the perfect weekend indulgence.

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